March 29 Devotional

Opening Prayer: You alone bring order to the unruly wills and affections of sinners; Grant us grace to love what You command, and desire what You have promised, so that, among the swift and varied changes of this world, our hearts may be fixed where true joy is to be found. Amen. (Venite by Robert Benson)

Scripture Reading for the Day: Luke 19:28-44

Journal: What is going on within you as we begin Holy Week? Are you ready for this journey to the cross? What will that mean for you this year?

Reflection:

comeride with mebeckons jesuscometo jerusalemcomeand weep over a citygone astraycomeand die with methat you mightbe raisedto new life

Bobby and Teresa LaDage are working with Redeemer City to City (the church planting arm of Redeemer Church in NYC) envisioning, equipping, and mentoring church planters and their wives in order to see gospel-centered churches reach the major cities of Eastern and Central Europe. Pray today for Bobby to have wisdom in helping the City to City European Leadership board.

Echo Resources is a ministry to ministers. ER’s vision is for ministers to live in deeper intimacy with Christ, family and community, and to thus have greater effect for God’s Kingdom. Pray today for Buddy Odom as he leads this ministry.

Closing Prayer: Loving God, at this time, we remember that going up to Jerusalem cost Jesus his very life. So we come before you, conscious of the way religious words and holy phrases can slip so easily from our lazy lips and our hardened hearts. What do we really know of your mountainous truth, your rock-hard integrity, the depth of your suffering for love of us all? Forgive us for the shallowness of our faith and the timidity of our following: forgive us for the ready excuses we make for going our own way and claiming it as yours.

Turn us round again, we pray, by your Holy Spirit, active within us and among us. Show us how to be open again to your faithfulness and to your freedom, that we may live new lives and be again bearers of the seeds of the realm of Jesus. (A Prayer for Palm Sunday)